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President Donald Trump described it as ‘very important’ that ‘nothing’ transpire to derail Syria’s transformation ‘into a prosperous state.’

The commander-in-chief’s cryptic comments come days after Israel engaged in an operation in Syria.

‘The United States is very satisfied with the results displayed, through hard work and determination, in the Country of Syria. We are doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended, which is substantial, in order to build a true and prosperous Country. One of the things that has helped them greatly was my termination of very strong and biting sanctions — I believe this was truly appreciated by Syria, its Leadership, and its People!’ the president said in the Truth Social post.

‘It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State. The new President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together. This is a historic opportunity, and adds to the SUCCESS, already attained, for PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!’ Trump added.

The IDF noted last week that troops were wounded during action in Syria.

A post on X explained that ‘IDF troops conducted an operation to apprehend suspects from the Jaama Islamiya terrorist organization operating in the Beit Jinn area of southern Syria. During the activity, several armed terrorists opened fire at the troops. IDF soldiers responded with live fire, supported by aerial assistance.’

IDF battles terrorists in Syria raid

‘As a result of the incident, several reservists were injured and were evacuated to the hospital to receive medical treatment. The operation concluded with all suspects apprehended and several terrorists eliminated,’ the IDF post noted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump spoke on Monday.

‘The two leaders stressed the importance and obligation of disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, and discussed expanding the peace agreements,’ the office of the prime minister noted on X. ‘US President Trump invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to a meeting at the White House in the near future,’ another post added.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt released details on President Donald Trump’s MRI scan that was conducted in October, reading the results of the examination during Monday’s press briefing that showed he was in good health. 

Trump’s health has fallen under increasing scrutiny from the media in recent months, including when it was revealed that Trump underwent a second routine physical for the year in October, which included an MRI scan. Leavitt reported the medical imaging procedure found Trump as healthy. 

‘As part of President Trump’s comprehensive executive physical advanced imaging was performed because men in his age group benefit from a thorough evaluation of cardiovascular and abdominal health,’ Leavitt read from the report Monday. 

‘The purpose of this imaging is preventative to identify any issues early, confirm overall health, and ensure the president maintains long-term vitality and function,’ Leavitt continued. ‘President Trump’s cardiovascular imaging was perfectly normal. No evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels. The heart chambers are normal in size, the vessel walls appear smooth and healthy, and there are no signs of inflammation or clotting. Overall, his cardiovascular system shows excellent health.’ 

Trump is the oldest man to be inaugurated president, with the media increasingly turning their attention to the president’s health after repeated photos since February show bruising on Trump’s hand, while photos from July showed the president with swollen legs. 

Leavitt, as well as Trump, repeatedly have brushed off questions and concern surrounding his health, pointing to physical examinations in April, and then again in October, that found the president ‘remains in excellent health.’

‘His abdominal imaging is also perfectly normal. All major organs appear very healthy and well perfused,’ Leavitt continued Monday of Trump’s MRI. ‘Everything evaluated is functioning within normal limits with no acute or chronic concerns. In summary, this level of detailed assessment is standard for an executive physical at President Trump’s age and confirms that he remains in excellent overall health.’ 

‘Again, we will provide that to you,’ she added. ‘I think that’s quite a bit of detail. And in the effort of transparency, the president promised it last night and we have delivered today.’ 

Trump was questioned about the MRI Sunday evening, saying he would release the report while underscoring it was ‘perfect’ and adding that it did not focus on scanning his brain. 

‘If they want to release it, it’s OK with me to release it,’ Trump said. ‘It’s perfect.’ 

‘If you want to have it released, I’ll release it,’ he continued. 

Media concern over Trump’s health follows the current White House’s repeated criticisms of journalists over their lack of reporting on then-President Joe Biden’s mental acuity and physical fitness when he served in the Oval Office. 

The media did not have a large focus on Biden’s health until the election cycle, when he was pressed to drop out his re-election effort to retain the White House as political allies called on him to pass the torch to a younger generation. Biden ultimately dropped out of the race in July 2024. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the Trump administration is ‘actively re-examining’ all the Afghan nationals who entered the United States during former President Joe Biden’s administration.

‘Any individual who threatens our national security or our citizenry will be subject to removal,’ Leavitt told reporters during a White House press briefing. ‘President Trump has already permanently paused the migration of foreign nationals from third world countries that pose a very high risk to the United States. For too long, past American presidents supported self-destruction, self-destructive immigration policies that allowed foreigners who outright hate our country and have no interest in assimilating into our culture.’

The announcement comes after the death of 20-year-old National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, who was allegedly shot in the nation’s capital last week by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national. 

A second National Guardsman, 24-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, is still in the hospital and fighting for his life.

President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday that the Wolfe family are ‘unbelievably great people’ who want the public to pray for their son.

‘Sarah and Andrew are heroes, and we will never forget their sacrifice. That means ensuring the monster responsible for this atrocity is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and faces the most severe punishment possible. It also means reckoning with why this atrocity was allowed to happen in the first place, so that it may never occur again,’ said Leavitt.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also announced Friday that the federal agency would conduct a reexamination of all green card holders from so-called countries of concern.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The Detroit Lions didn’t just lose their Thanksgiving day game against the Green Bay Packers in 2025. They also lost one of their key offensive players.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown exited the game in the first quarter after suffering an ankle injury when a lineman rolled on his leg from behind while he was engaged in blocking a defender.

St. Brown was able to walk off the field under his own power but quickly headed to the locker room. He was walking with a slight limp and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest after initially being deemed ‘questionable’ to return.

The good news for the Lions? St. Brown’s injury doesn’t appear to be of the long-term variety. That said, with the team playing a second consecutive Thursday game, his status entering Week 14 will bear watching as the Lions look to work their way back into the NFC playoff picture.

Here’s what to know about St. Brown’s injury and when he could return to the field.

Is Amon-Ra St. Brown playing Week 14 vs. Cowboys?

The Lions have not yet announced whether St. Brown will be available for the team’s Week 14 game against the Cowboys.

It isn’t clear exactly when Detroit may communicate a decision about St. Brown’s status. That said, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said in a Dec. 1 appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ he expects the Lions to wait to make a decision about St. Brown’s status until closer to the game.

‘I don’t think they’ll be ready to rule him out quick,’ Schefter said. ‘Maybe they will, but I think he’s gonna give it a chance to be able to try to be able to play on Thursday. I’m not telling you he will, but this is guy is very, very tough.’

NFL fans will have a better understanding of St. Brown’s potential availability based on the Lions’ practice reports. Those will be released Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the team’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ game against the Cowboys.

If St. Brown can practice on a full basis early in the week, he may be able to suit up without missing any extra action. If he’s limited or a non-participant, that may make it difficult for him to suit up for Detroit’s second consecutive Thursday game.

Amon-Ra St. Brown injury update

St. Brown was originally classified as ‘week-to-week’ after suffering a low ankle sprain in the Lions’ Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

While St. Brown is considered week-to-week because of his ankle injury, Pelissero reports the 26-year-old receiver should avoid being placed on injured reserve. That means the Lions expect St. Brown to return to action without having to miss the minimum four games required by such a stint.

Pelissero also noted the Lions will have a mini-bye after Week 14, which will allow St. Brown some extra rest should Detroit need to hold him out. That could help the fifth-year veteran return to the field quickly, even if he isn’t able to suit up against the Cowboys.

Lions WR depth chart

The Lions have six receivers on their 53-man roster, but just two are presently healthy. Below is a look at the pecking order within the unit:

  1. Amon-Ra St. Brown (injured)
  2. Jameson Williams
  3. Kalif Raymond (injured)
  4. Isaac TeSlaa
  5. Tom Kennedy
  6. Dominic Lovett

As long as St. Brown remains out of action, Williams will be Jared Goff’s top target. The 2022 first-round pick has generated 706 yards and six touchdowns on 38 receptions this season and will use his blazing speed to get open and make big plays.

TeSlaa, a rookie third-round pick out of Arkansas, could also be more involved in Detroit’s offense. The 23-year-old recorded a career-best 35 receiving yards and scored his second touchdown on Thanksgiving after St. Brown’s injury. His 6-4, 214-pound frame and elite-level catch radius will make him a legitimate red-zone threat if he sees increased opportunities.

The Lions also have veteran Malik Cunningham and undrafted rookie Jackson Meeks on the practice squad and could call either up if St. Brown misses time because of his injury.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The Jameis Winston Experience was a two-week-long roller coaster, but the New York Giants are hoping for more of a smooth sail in the final weeks of 2025.

Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has missed each of New York’s last two games while in the NFL’s concussion protocol, and the Giants remained winless in games the rookie has not started. Will Dart play against the New England Patriots on ‘Monday Night Football’?

Dart suffered his head injury in a Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears – resulting in his fourth concussion check since the Giants’ final preseason game. Team doctors diagnosed the rookie with a concussion, putting him in the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol that he had to clear before returning. The Mississippi product reached the penultimate step of the five-part protocol last week but was unable to clear the final hurdle before Week 12’s loss to the Detroit Lions.

That changed in Week 13, and Big Blue’s first-round pick will indeed make his highly anticipated return to action as the calendar turns to December.

Here’s what to know about Dart’s status for ‘Monday Night Football’:

Is Jaxson Dart playing today?

Yes. Dart will make his first start since Week 10. The Giants rookie’s eighth career start will be against the team that New York defeated in its last two Super Bowl appearances: the Patriots.

Dart will face off against a fellow young gunslinger in New England’s rising star and second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Maye is among betting favorites to win this year’s NFL MVP award, while Dart is second in BetMGM’s betting odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

The Giants quarterback may have been more of a shoo-in for the award if he hadn’t missed New York’s last two games while working his way through the NFL’s concussion protocol. Dart suffered his head injury in a Week 10 loss in Chicago, which was one of the final nails in the coffin for head coach Brian Daboll. The Giants fired him after the game.

New York is winless (0-5) in games in which Dart has not started behind center. Veterans Winston (0-2) and Russell Wilson (0-3) both struggled at times and were both unable to overcome late-game defensive collapses.

The Giants are already mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but Dart’s return for the final stretch gives the team a bit of intrigue for the last six weeks of the season.

Jaxson Dart stats

Dart took over as the Giants’ starting quarterback in Week 4 after the team got off to an 0-3 start. He has since missed two games while dealing with a concussion he suffered in Week 10.

Here’s how the rookie’s stats look through seven career starts:

  • Completion rate: 128-of-204 (62.7%)
  • Passing yards: 1,417
  • Touchdowns: 10
  • Interceptions: 3
  • Passer rating: 93.5
  • Rushing: 57 attempts for 317 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns

Giants QB depth chart

  • Jaxson Dart (active – concussion protocol)
  • Jameis Winston
  • Russell Wilson

Dart is active for his first game since Week 10’s loss to the Bears. Winston was elevated to the team’s backup quarterback spot after that game, and he started each of the Giants’ last two games against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.

Wilson, like Winston, was a veteran free agent New York signed in the offseason. After beginning the year as Big Blue’s starting quarterback, he struggled to run the offense and slid to the third spot on the Giants’ depth chart.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

  • It might be time to strip the Colts of their contender status after Indianapolis lost for the third time in four weeks.
  • The Rams’ stunning loss was a setback in their NFC playoff positioning, but the defeat shouldn’t prompt many larger concerns.
  • Max Brosmer had a nightmare debut as an NFL starting QB for the Vikings, though it’s hardly all the undrafted rookie’s fault.

Sunday’s slate wrapping up Week 13 in the NFL essentially amounted to being fed Thanksgiving leftovers.

The league loaded up on captivating matchups for both the holiday itself and Black Friday. But that setup left the weekend a little light on marquee showdowns.

Still, while there might not have been much drama in specific games on Sunday, things appear to be setting up for a fascinating finish over the final five weeks of the regular season. The playoff picture shifted substantially in Week 13, and many divisions that once looked to have a runaway winner are getting unexpectedly close.

Here are the biggest winners from Sunday’s action:

NFL Week 13 winners

Carolina Panthers

Having upended the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field only to lose at home against the New Orleans Saints the following week, the Panthers had already established themselves as capable of almost anything on a week-to-week basis. But a stunning 31-28 triumph over the previously NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams put Carolina over the top as the NFL’s agents of chaos.

The Panthers were largely content to chip away at the Rams with a steady ground game, but breakthroughs came via the air on a pair of fourth downs in the second half: first on a 33-yard scoring shot from Bryce Young to Jalen Coker, and another on a 43-yard touchdown connection with rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan. What truly set Carolina apart from Los Angeles’ past challengers, however, was the defense’s playmaking streak. MVP front-runner Matthew Stafford was picked twice – with one takeaway returned by Mike Jackson for a touchdown – to double his interception total for the entire season, and his costly fumble on a sack while in field goal territory ended any chance at a rally.

Carolina still sits a half game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South lead with a less favorable setup down the stretch. But with two tilts against the four-time defending division champs in the coming weeks, the Panthers now have a legitimate shot at ending a seven-year playoff drought – so long as they skew closer to this extreme on their spectrum of possible performances. Given how low the ceiling has been in Carolina for years, that’s volatility that the franchise will gladly take.

NFC playoff pandemonium

In the next month or so, talk about the Kansas City Chiefs and other AFC powers might seem inescapable. But the bigger postseason entropy likely will be found in the other conference.

The Rams’ loss cratered the power structure that was starting to emerge in the NFC, with the Chicago Bears surging to the No. 1 seed while the Seattle Seahawks caught up to force another tie atop the NFC West. Three of the divisions feature only one game of separation between the leader and second-place team, and even the NFC East has renewed relevance with the Dallas Cowboys’ emergence coinciding with the Philadelphia Eagles’ stumbles. Seedings and berths truly seem like a toss-up, making for a highly entertaining – and consequential – final five weeks.

AFC South intrigue

The division has long been considered the NFL’s least enticing foursome – at least on a national stage – with the winner annually destined for a Saturday afternoon wild-card slot. This year, however, the race for the AFC South crown might be one of the more noteworthy stories down the stretch. The Indianapolis Colts once looked poised to wrap things up early, but their loss to the Houston Texans helped vault the Jacksonville Jaguars, who beat the Tennessee Titans, into first place. But this is still very much a logjam, with Indianapolis set to meet Jacksonville twice in the next four weeks before wrapping things up against Houston. Of course, barring some unexpected schedule flexing, don’t expect a prime-time spotlight for the chase.

Adonai Mitchell

The 2024 second-round pick was largely seen as a mere toss-in to the Sauce Gardner trade between the Colts and New York Jets, as Indianapolis made him a non-factor following his costly gaffes in a Week 4 loss to the Rams. On Sunday, however, Mitchell re-emerged for the rebooting Jets, notching a career-high 102 yards on eight catches to help power a 27-24 overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons. Missed opportunities for big plays downfield have dogged the receiver throughout his first two seasons in the pros, but he finally made good on his deep speed by hauling in a 52-yard heave from Tyrod Taylor, which was both New York’s longest play from scrimmage his season and Mitchell’s first career NFL touchdown. The Jets still need a suitable No. 2 next to Garrett Wilson for 2026, and it’s not clear yet whether Mitchell can hold down that role. But he’s making a strong case to Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand that he’s a piece worth developing.

Mike McDaniel

When the Miami Dolphins parted with general manager Chris Grier at midseason but opted to hang on to their embattled coach, they seemingly gave McDaniel a decent runway to turn things around. So far, he’s taken advantage of that opportunity. A 21-17 win over the New Orleans Saints might not seem like it would move the needle much on his tenure, with Miami only fending off a comeback bid in the final two minutes once Minkah Fitzpatrick ran back an interception on a potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt by New Orleans. But the Dolphins have now won three consecutive games and set themselves apart from the league’s bottom tier of teams. With a meeting against the Jets next weekend, McDaniel will have a shot at creeping closer to .500 before the schedule ramps up in the final four weeks.

NFL Week 13 losers

Los Angeles Rams

Since a Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Sean McVay’s crew had essentially gone unchallenged, never having trailed since the first quarter of Week 6. That made Sunday’s outcome all the more remarkable, as the Rams previously looked to be in a class of their own in the NFC.

With the uncharacteristic turnovers looming so large, it’s difficult to say any true weaknesses were exposed here for Los Angeles. The secondary experienced a bit of regression to the mean, with cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. allowing both of the fourth-down touchdowns and a total of five receptions for 110 yards after an extremely stellar stretch. And the defense as a whole looks a bit adrift without standout safety Quentin Lake, who could be back for the playoffs after landing on injured reserve with a dislocated left elbow.

The larger issue for Los Angeles is the missed opportunity. The Rams had a chance to maintain their advantage over the rest of the NFC’s top threats but instead ceded their spot at the front of the pack. And any further missteps could be costly, with Seattle ready to pounce for the division lead and the Eagles owning the head-to-head tiebreaker for seeding. With a Week 15 matchup with the desperate Detroit Lions looming before a potentially NFC West-shaping ‘Thursday Night Football’ tilt against the Seahawks in Week 16, this slip-up could end up being the difference between securing home-field advantage and having to hit the road for the entirety of the postseason.

Indianapolis Colts

Assign fault or extend qualifiers as you see fit. No matter how you arrive there, it’s getting exceedingly difficult to keep the Colts in the NFL’s contender class, with the team having lost three of its last four games after Sunday’s 20-16 setback against the Texans.

In a vacuum, Indianapolis being held to a season-low scoring output by a stifling Houston defense wouldn’t be cause for concern. But an offense that started out the season setting the league-wide high water mark for efficiency has shown serious signs of sputtering in recent weeks. As Daniel Jones plays on through a fractured fibula, the quarterback appears to be noticeably inhibited, particularly in his ability to extend plays or evade pressure. Coach Shane Steichen might not admit it, but that setup has taken a toll on an offensive approach that was becoming increasingly more risk-averse – and therefore unable to punish teams regularly through the air. Jones enjoyed some success in scattered instances working downfield, like with his 19-yard scoring strike to Alec Pierce or his 34-yard connection with Josh Downs. But Steichen’s play-calling and Jones’ limitations in extending plays have put Indianapolis in a spot where it barely threatens teams if Jonathan Taylor can’t lead the way. In the Colts’ three November losses, the back has been held to just 3.69 yards per carry.

The defense is also showing signs of unraveling. While Gardner appears to have avoided a worst-case scenario of a torn Achilles, his calf injury still could sideline him for a critical stretch. That’s a major blow to a unit that had shifted its coverage approach to a much heavier dose of man coverage since his arrival. Meanwhile, the pass rush still isn’t up to par, with the front lacking any juice beyond what coordinator Lou Anarumo can scheme up.

After a 7-1 start, Indianapolis finds itself having lost its grasp on the division lead. Worse yet, the schedule brings matchups with eight- or nine-win teams over the next four weeks before the season finale against the Texans. If the division falls through the Colts’ hands, Indianapolis could be hard-pressed to find a path forward in the near future after giving up its next two first-round picks in the Gardner deal.

Max Brosmer

The Minnesota Vikings’ undrafted rookie quarterback was forced into an impossibly unfair spot in having to make his first start against the Seattle Seahawks’ swarming defense, all while the offense around him continued to come undone. Brosmer hardly deserves to bear the brunt of the blame for the 26-0 rout, but his four interceptions also put to rest the notion that the unit could be saved merely by extracting J.J. McCarthy from behind center. Desperation set in quickly, with a fourth-down fling caught by Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV and returned 85 yards for a score serving as a harbinger for the hurting that would be inflicted in the shutout. Minnesota’s offensive outing was so inept that it essentially rendered any Sam Darnold revenge plot lines moot, as the signal-caller registered a season-low 128 yards on 14-of-26 passing but didn’t need to give his new team anything more. If McCarthy can clear concussion protocol in the next week or two, Minnesota has little choice but to turn back to him and continue gaining insight on whether a full reset is required.

Aaron Rodgers

When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Rodgers in June, it figured Pittsburgh would be able to scale back its ask of the 41-year-old by equipping him with abundant support. But a 26-7 home flop against the Buffalo Bills reinforced how badly almost every level of the operation – particularly on offense – has failed to do its part.

Pittsburgh managed just 166 total yards on Sunday, including the rushing attack mustering just 58 against a Bills defense that has been repeatedly gashed on the ground. The game was broken open at the start of the second half when Rodgers, while trying to buy time against the oncoming pass rush by maneuvering in the pocket, was pummeled by Joey Bosa, who forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Christian Benford. From there, the Steelers proved unable to climb out of a hole, as the bloodied four-time NFL MVP’s fractured wrist – and left tackle Broderick Jones’ absence – seemingly exacerbated the offense’s inability to get anything going in the downfield passing game.

Rodgers stood by Mike Tomlin after the loss, but it became clear that frustration is mounting, with the quarterback demanding that players – including himself – be held accountable. That’s a good start, but it seems unlikely the missing spark will be ignited simply by willpower given how this team has been built. If Pittsburgh falters next week against the rival Baltimore Ravens and surrenders further ground in the AFC North, the team – and Rodgers – will have to face some uncomfortable realities about where this season is headed.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The Curry brothers are reportedly reuniting.

The Golden State Warriors are planning to sign Seth Curry for the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season, according to ESPN, pairing him with older brother Stephen Curry, the star of the team.

The move is meant to bring shooting to a roster that needs it badly. The Warriors are 11-10 and have struggled as of late, going 5-5 over their Past 10 games. Golden State ranks 22nd in offensive rating, generating 113 points per 100 possessions. The Warriors are tied for 14th in 3-point shooting percentage (35.9%), but Steph Curry remains out with a left quad strain that has sidelined him for the team’s last game, Saturday, Nov. 29, against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Steph Curry, 37, leads the Warriors with 27.9 points per game, which is tied for 12th in the NBA.

Seth Curry spent training camp with the Warriors and this will mark the first time the Curry brothers play for the same team. The Warriors waived Seth prior to the start of the season because of their salary cap situation.

Seth, 35, has bounced around the league, with stops with the Mavericks, 76ers, Nets, Hornets, Trail Blazers, Kings, Suns, Cavaliers and Grizzlies.

Steph is widely considered to be the greatest shooter of all-time and is the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers, with 4,133 across his 17 seasons. Seth also excels from beyond the arc, shooting 43.3% from 3-point range in his career, which ranks seventh in league history.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The story of the men’s NCAA season so far has been the inverse of recent history. The Big Ten, which has not won a national championship since forming in 2013, is dominating thanks to some incredible recruiting classes buttressed by a wave of major junior players from Canada.

Hockey East, which has typically been one of the strongest conferences in the nation, is struggling. Perhaps it’s just a blip or maybe the parity in Hockey East is simply muddying the waters, but it’s odd to see the likes of Boston University and Boston College not at the top of the rankings.

Let’s not forget the NCHC, either. That conference has minted seven of the past 10 national champions and the likes of Denver and North Dakota are looking dangerous again.

There is still a lot of hockey left to play, however, so anything can happen. In the meantime, we go with the information we have on these first power rankings of the 2025-26 season.

College hockey power rankings

1. Michigan Wolverines (15-3-0)

The most entertaining team in the nation, the Wolverines have scored 92 goals so far – no other team has even hit 70. Led by the likes of NHL first-rounders Will Horcoff (Pittsburgh) and Michael Hage (Montreal), Michigan has blitzed the competition and played a pretty good schedule. Archrival Michigan State is up next and that will be a battle royale for state supremacy.

2. Wisconsin Badgers (10-2-2)

The Badgers may not have the same big names as some of their Big Ten cohorts, but they did recently sweep Michigan State, who had been the No. 1 team in the nation. So give Bucky his due. Forwards such as Christian Fitzgerald and Gavin Morrissey are pacing the offense, but keep an eye on sophomore defenseman Logan Hensler (Ottawa), as he is finding his scoring range in his second year.

3. Dartmouth Big Green (8-0-0)

The only undefeated team left in the nation, Dartmouth has done it with defense and goaltending. The Big Green have surrendered just nine goals total so far, with netminder Emmett Croteau (Montreal) boasting an absolutely ridiculous .970 save percentage through four starts. They’ve beaten Cornell once, but let’s see if this team can keep the party rolling when it plays the likes of Arizona State and Quinnipiac later in the campaign.

4. Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (12-4-0)

A couple of splits with Omaha and Colorado College have dented UMD’s armor a bit, but this is still a top-notch squad. The Plante brothers, Max (Detroit) and Zam (Pittsburgh), are two of the top scorers in the nation and Max will be one to watch for Team USA at the world juniors at the end of December. In goal, Adam Gajan (Chicago) has become the No. 1 stopper we all thought he would become.

5. Michigan State Spartans (11-3-0)

When you’re on top, everyone takes a shot at you. Unfortunately for the Spartans, Wisconsin took a bunch of good shots, handing Michigan State two losses in a row. Nevertheless, this is still a top team thanks to scintillating freshman Porter Martone (Philadelphia) and senior Charlie Stramel (Minnesota), among others. Trey Augustine (Detroit) has been a titan in net, as per usual.

6. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (10-4-0)

An early loss to Minnesota doesn’t look as bad now that the Gophers are on the upswing and in general, North Dakota has taken care of business. Freshman defenseman Keaton Verhoeff has played so well that some believe he can challenge Gavin McKenna as the top prospects in the 2026 NHL draft, while fellow major junior import Cole Reschny (Calgary) has been everything the team could have hoped for.

7. Northeastern Huskies (9-4-0)

One of the most pleasant surprises of the season so far, the Huskies have been shining in a confusing Hockey East conference. Northeastern already has a sweep over Boston College and a non-conference win over powerhouse Denver. Junior goaltender Lawton Zacher has been fantastic between the pipes with a .943 save percentage, while Dylan Hryckowian has paced the offense.

8. Denver Pioneers (9-5-1)

Never doubt a David Carle-coached team. Even if the Pioneers have been streaky, this is a team that knows how to win it all. Having said that, Denver has lost two in a row after winning six straight, so I have to ding them a bit. Defenseman Eric Pohlkamp (San Jose) is leading the team in offense, while goaltender Quentin Miller (Montreal) has been solid in net.

9. Minnesota State Mavericks (10-2-4)

The kings of the CCHA tied Wisconsin twice early on and that’s looking impressive now. Minnesota State has ripped off six consecutive wins and has a pretty favorable schedule in the future. Senior goaltender Alex Tracy has played every game and has an admirable .936 save percentage to show for it. Luigi Benincasa leads the offense.

10. Penn State Nittany Lions (11-5-0)

Early success for the hotly anticipated Nittany Lions came to a crashing halt in recent weeks due to match-ups with Michigan, Michigan State and Minnesota. Not a death knell, but perhaps a wake-up call. Gavin McKenna, the top prospect in the 2026 NHL draft, has been one of the top-scoring freshmen in the country while Charlie Cerrato (Carolina) has been sizzling. Too bad they don’t play for another month.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The Los Angeles Chargers earned a 31-14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13, but it came at a cost.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert suffered an injury to his left hand early in the game. The 27-year-old was eventually able to return to the game while wearing a heavily padded glove on his non-throwing hand.

Herbert finished the day without issue, completing 15-of-20 passes for 151 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

However, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters following the game Herbert had suffered a fracture in his left hand that would require surgery. That brought into question the star quarterback’s status moving forward.

Here’s what to know about Herbert’s injury and how long it might keep him out of action.

How long is Justin Herbert out?

‘My understanding is the plan is for Justin Herbert to play on Monday after surgery on his hand,’ Rapoport reports.

Rapoport’s reporting aligns with what Herbert told reporters during his postgame news conference Sunday. The 27-year-old quarterback said doctors were ‘very hopeful’ the injury would not cause him to miss any time.

‘I’m treating it as if I’m playing on Monday,’ Herbert said, per USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon. ‘I think they’re very hopeful for that. I think that’s just something that we’ll see tomorrow and we’ll get a feel for. But I think they were really hopeful. So that’s always a good thing.’

Harbaugh told reporters during a postgame news conference the quarterback had suffered a fracture in his left hand and would have a procedure to address the injury on Monday, Dec. 1.

Harbaugh didn’t provide a timetable for Herbert to return to action. The veteran coach also did not rule him out for Los Angeles’ ‘Monday Night Football’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14.

The Chargers (8-4) will enter Week 14 as the top wild-card team in the AFC. However, they are only a game ahead of the first team out of the AFC playoff picture – the Houston Texans (7-5) – so their standing could quickly change.

It isn’t clear whether that reality will impact Herbert’s timeline to return or if the Chargers will be content to see if their backup quarterbacks can carry them until Herbert is fully healthy.

Who is the Chargers backup QB?

Lance was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He spent the first two-plus seasons of his career with the 49ers, playing sparingly due to injuries before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys.

Lance has a 2-3 record across five career starts and has completed 56.1% of his passes for 1,144 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also added 288 yards and a touchdown on 69 career carries.

Chargers QB depth chart

The Chargers have three quarterbacks in their organization at present. Below is the pecking order within the unit:

  1. Justin Herbert
  2. Trey Lance
  3. DJ Uiagalelei (practice squad)

Uiagalelei signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft. The 24-year-old played collegiately at Clemson, Oregon State and Florida State before showing well enough in the preseason to earn a practice squad spot with Los Angeles.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

An unlikely alliance in the House of Representatives is seeking to reform the U.S. criminal justice system.

The House is expected to consider a bill this week that would force the federal government to create a vast database of existing federal criminal laws and regulations, which its supporters hope will be a stepping stone to cutting down what they see as an exceedingly cumbersome bureaucratic web.

The bill is being led by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, with support from Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Lucy McBath, D-Ga., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn.

It’s not often that progressives can be seen teaming up with members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, but concerns like government overreach have been known to bring together unusual coalitions within Congress.

‘This, for me, was driven by the fact that I think we have far too many federal crimes and that the American people often don’t know what they are,’ Roy told Fox News Digital. ‘There’s lots of different ways in which you can be criminally liable for something you don’t even know about, and that’s insane.’

The Texas Republican said crimes like assaults, stabbings and thefts were ‘basic, Ten Commandments–like laws’ that necessarily carried penalties — but he argued there were thousands more rules, including dictating regulatory violations, that posed issues for everyday Americans.

‘There are all sorts of regulatory things under the [Environmental Protection Agency] that frankly make criminals out of Americans by virtue of just how they engage.  It might be a farmer just using their land or range or whatever. And suddenly they are a criminal,’ he said.

‘I mean, there’s been people who have gone to jail for violations of, essentially, what was regulations — maybe those are all extensions off of some statute way back when, but when you have a generic statute on environmental protection that then turns into a thousand different codes that if you break, you’re somehow violating law, that’s a big problem.’

Biggs complained of the lack of accounting for regulatory offenses Americans are accused of in a statement earlier this year.

‘We have a duty to protect Americans’ right to liberty, and this begins with scaling down the massive overreach in federal criminal offenses,’ Biggs said.

McBath said the bill means, ‘Americans will no longer have to fear being excessively punished, and criminal justice professionals can better protect the public.’

In addition to creating the new database, the bill would also direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to report how many cases have been prosecuted under each offense over the last 15 years.

It could get a vote in the House as soon as Monday evening, though it’s possible consideration is pushed until later this week.

While bipartisan cooperation is rare in the current Congress, Roy has been known to reach across the aisle on key issues before. He and several other Republicans are working with Democrats on legislation to ban stock trading for Capitol Hill lawmakers.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS